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"Seven in all," said Mother Obligatia

"How are we situated?" Rosvita asked "You saw the last of the setting sun"

"The sea lies south,north"

"It’s still winter, by the look of this snow You’re sure it is King Henry’s army?"

"I am sure," said Hanna "The skopos is with him"

"How could they have journeyed here so swiftly?" Rosvita rubbed her eyes wearily Fortunatus kept a hand on her back to support her

Hanna went on "When I was in Darre, I was taken before the skopos The Holy Mother spoke of a crown by the sea in Dalht have arrived in southern Salia or even as far west as Aquila"

"As I reers still woven through Rosvita’s, "there are croith seven stones in all three of those places"

"I wove east, or I meant to This ht be in the north," said Hanna, "but if that were so, ould be in Eika lands now I don’t see how King Henry could have ree this must be the Middle Sea at our backs?"

"It see of Yet then how could King Henry know of theht be the selfsame crown that the skopos spoke of"

"The simplest explanation is often the best one," said Fortunatus "If a ot her with child than a shade or an angel, no matter what story she tells the deacon If the Holy Mother did not knohere ere going, then isn’t it likely she ca to

Ruoda coughed, and her spaslooriot to her feet Fortunatus kept hold of her elbow Standing, she had a clear view of the land northward A procession approached frohts than Rosvita could easily count winding toward the us," sniveled Gerwita "They knoe’re here!"

"They ," said Fortunatus

"I pray you, let us go!" said Hanna

"Where shall we go in such darkness?" asked Aurea, always practical "We dare not light a torch"

"We do not fear the darkness," said Sister Hilaria "If you can carry Mother Obligatia and the chest, then Diocletia and I can take turns leading the group Night see up the rear Let me take the staff so that I can test shadows and beat aside brush"

"A wise solution" Rosvita grasped hold of Gerwita’s shoulders "Sister Gerwita, I am still weak froatia If you cannot supportceased "I shall never leave you behind, Sister! Here, let ht!"

Heriburg had the books, which she refused to relinquish Ruoda and Jehan had the novices suffered frorippe but would not complain It fell, therefore, to Jerome to carry the chest and Fortunatus and Hanna to lift the pallet while Hilaria and Diocletia took the van, each carrying a staff Teuda and Aurea brought up the rear, shepherding Sister Petra, who showed a tendency to stray if she were not led

"Have you a rope that you ently, and after brief consideration Teuda used Petra’s belt as a leash, so that the woive them away

In this fashion they stuht and the wind stiff against their faces as it blew in off the water It was cool but not cold A salty da, and as they walked, the fine blanket of snow faded into patches and at last gave way as a warround was rocky and tree shrubs so Rosvita, walking directly behind Diocletia, did not find herself scratched and mauled too often as the nun flattened or broke off any offending branches Even as Rosvita’s eyes got accustomed to the dimness, she still felt half blind, but the nuns walked as confidently as if they held aloft torches to light their way Gerwita steadied her, and indeed the girl trudged along like an old soldier, as surefooted as sin Behind, Jerorunt of pain and the heavy thump of the chest, but he insisted he was unhurt and it wouldn’t have lanced back frequently, and Rosvita felt a great sense of relief when the lay of the land cut off any view they had of the torchlit parade that snaked its way ever nearer to the stones